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Beginning Feb. 1st each year, a seasonal wildlife closure will be in effect on Redgarden Wall in Eldorado Canyon State Park to protect nesting and roosting sites of the canyons falcons. The closure is in effect through July 31st unless lifted early due to early fledging or inactivity.

Description

This is an odd route where the first 40' are a tree! Climbing this route is hard on the tree, and I hope it remains obscure. The route would be much harder without the tree, as it spans a sizable overhang.

It begins only 30' right of the start of the Yellow Spur. Climb a large tree to the lip of an overhang (slings around branches if you want pro). The top of this tree has been beaten down by the traffic and the move getting onto the rock has been getting harder (I'm 6'0", and I'd rate it 5.9 or even harder if you are much shorter). Fortunately, you can place some decent pro in the rock before stepping off the tree (hands just above the overhang). Do not attempt this climb if it is windy.

After the difficult moves over the overhang, head up and left to belay at a tree. The second pitch (nice) follows the same crack system for 50' to a ledge, then continue up parallel cracks (5.9) to a belay. The third pitch climbs a rotten and somewhat unprotected face over a bulge (you can get in more than the #0 RP mentioned by Rossiter), then traverse right to the Upper Ramp.

If you still haven't gotten your fill of tree hugging, head on up E.L.100.

Looks like the 2 topmost branches of the tree were recently broken off. The transition onto the face is now much harder (and not fun, just awkward). There are much better climbs in the area to do, in my opinion.
Jul 17, 2008